A comprehensive study by Impact: NPO on behalf of Masa Israel Journey reveals the impact of long-term Israel experiences on young American Jews – confirming that they are much more likely to be involved in their local Jewish communities.
For 19 years, Masa Israel Journey – an initiative of The Jewish Agency for Israel and the Israeli Government – has provided Diaspora Jews opportunities to be engaged in meaningful experiences in Israel, ranging from a few months to a year. Nearly 200,000 Fellows from over 60 countries have taken part in Masa programs, which have nurtured their personal and professional growth.
Masa Israel Journey is the largest immersive, long-term educational experience for young adults, offering an authentic journey into Israeli society. Masa acts as the largest pipeline for the Jewish Diaspora to access Israeli businesses, social enterprises, and academic institutions, with programs like Masa Career, Masa Israel Teaching Fellows, Masa Doctors, Masa Volunteers, Masa Gap and more.
The benefits of these programs, both for the Fellows and Israeli society, have always been evident. “It is not a trip but, rather, a journey. Fellows form a bond to Israel and strengthen their Jewish identity,” says Ofer Gutman, CEO of Masa. “And the fact that close to 13,000 Masa Fellows live in Israel each year – volunteering, interning and studying – impacts the Israelis with whom they interact.”
Unbelievable findings
A study conducted by Impact: NPO corroborates the full extent of Masa’s impact. It presents data that not only demonstrates that alumni are more engaged in their Jewish communities, but also that their Masa journey affects many of their adult life choices.
Among the young Jews from the U.S. who responded to the study, some participated in long-term Masa programs, some participated in a short-term program lasting less than one month, and some had never visited Israel. They were asked questions regarding aspects of their Jewish identity, their involvement in their local Jewish community, and their connection to Israel. To avoid skewing the results, alumni of Masa’s Jewish Studies programs were not included in the analysis, since they tend to be much more Jewishly involved from birth and don’t necessarily represent the larger Jewish community.
The study found that two-thirds of American Masa alumni regularly participate in Jewish programs or events in their communities and 62% describe themselves as active members of local Jewish communities. 80% of Masa alumni agreed with the statement, “Being Jewish is an important part of my life” – compared to 36% of those who had never been to Israel.
Caroline Spikner, a Masa Israel Teaching Fellows (MITF) alumna, is a case in point. “Arriving in Israel, I didn’t have any idea of what to expect,” she admits. “While teaching English in Be’er Sheva, I personally spent the year discovering what identity means in a Jewish country that’s also ethnically diverse. As a Jew of Color, I feel at home in Israel. I see people who look and pray like me. I found space for both of my identities – as a Black and Jewish woman – to coexist fully. Inspired by this experience, I continue to dedicate my professional and personal passions to making progress on racial and ethnic diversity in the U.S., particularly in the Jewish community in my role as Senior Jewish Life Associate at Metro Chicago Hillel.”
Equally remarkable is the finding that four times as many Masa alumni work for a Jewish organization or Jewish educational institution (19%) than American Jews who came to Israel only on short-term programs (5% of that group). “One in five Masa alumni work in the Jewish world. Masa is the best pipeline for building the next generation of Jewish professionals and activists,” notes Gutman.
The research also shed light on the correlation between long-term Israel programs and the likelihood of supporting local Jewish communities through philanthropy. The data shows that nearly half (45%) of Masa alumni regularly donate to Jewish charities or causes outside of Israel, and one-third donate to Israel-related charities – a much higher proportion than those who were never on a Masa program.
Personal development
The research didn’t only cover Masa’s impact on behavior and actions; it also evaluated its effect on alumni’s personal growth, including their identity as Jews. Findings revealed that Masa alumni maintain a strong long-term connection to Israel even after their program ends. 70% of the respondents who are Masa alumni have returned to Israel later in life, and a whopping 40% of them reported having visited Israel at least three more times after their Masa experience!
“The fact that so many return proves that they don’t feel like tourists, they see Israel as a second home,” asserts Gutman. Nearly half of Masa alumni say that they are active in Israel-related causes and advocacy, compared with around 30% of short-term program participants and just 20% of those who have never been to Israel. Moreover, nearly 60% of Masa alumni say that they feel a strong connection with the Israeli people and 66% are concerned about anti-Israel sentiment in the U.S.
The study indicates that participation in a long-term Israel program has a dramatic impact on establishing and maintaining Jewish relationships. More than half stated that most of their friends are Jewish and 62% said that they feel connected to Jews around the world. Masa Career alumnus Jessie Sigler says: “When I returned to the States, my experience abroad made me feel more confident speaking about Israel on campus. I became more active in on-campus Israel advocacy and Jewish social events, which resulted in me connecting with more Jewish peers on campus. Now, a larger majority of my surroundings is made up of other Jews – something I wasn’t intentionally seeking but found happily once my experience in Israel showed me how valuable the Jewish connection is.”
Masa alumni are more likely to raise their children Jewish. According to the data, 92% of alumni who are parents say that they raise their children Jewish, as opposed to 62% of Jews who have never visited Israel. Masa programs don’t only impact their Fellows, but future generations as well!
Exploring identity through career
The research analyzed each Masa track separately. The Career Explorers segment is especially interesting since its Fellows tend to be the least Jewishly engaged prior to their Masa experience. Half never participated in any formal Jewish activity and only a quarter celebrated a bar or bat mitzvah.
“The most impactful evolution was in the Career Explorers,” Gutman discloses. “These youngsters came to Israel mainly motivated to jumpstart their career. For most, it wasn’t about Israel but, rather, about professional development. We were surprised to discover the extent to which this group’s connection to the Jewish people and to Israel was transformed by their Masa experience.” Especially surprising is the fact that 59% of the Career Explorers alumni who work for nonprofits are employed by Jewish organizations.
“Before my Masa program in Israel, I was disconnected from my Jewish roots and felt something was missing,” adds Charlene Green, who took part in a Career Explorers program. “When I returned to the U.S., I knew I wanted to continue nurturing the part of my Jewish soul that blossomed in Israel. This led me to find fulfilling employment building Jewish community in North America, sharing the passion and love of Judaism I discovered in Israel. I 100% attribute my lifelong work as a Jewish nonprofit professional to my Masa experience.”
As a result of these findings, Masa plans to invest additional resources in bringing young Jews to Israel, particularly on Career Explorers. Gutman is optimistic that the results of the alumni research will send a clear message throughout the American Jewish community regarding the significant benefits of long-term Israel experiences.
“When the organized Jewish community invests in Masa, they are investing in themselves. We are producing the next generation of Jewish donors, activists, and professionals,” summarizes Gutman.